ABSTRACT
Rhinoviruses have persisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite other seasonal respiratory viruses (influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviruses, human metapneumovirus) being mostly suppressed by pandemic restrictions, such as masking and other forms of social distancing, especially during the national lockdown periods. Rhinoviruses, as nonenveloped viruses, are known to transmit effectively via the airborne and fomite route, which has allowed infection among children and adults to continue despite pandemic restrictions. Rhinoviruses are also known to cause and exacerbate acute wheezing episodes in children predisposed to this condition. Noninfectious causes such as air pollutants (PM2.5 , PM10 ) can also play a role. In this retrospective ecological study, we demonstrate the correlation between UK national sentinel rhinovirus surveillance, the level of airborne particulates, and the changing patterns of pediatric emergency department presentations for acute wheezing, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2021) in a large UK teaching hospital.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Enterovirus Infections , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human , Respiratory Tract Infections , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Child , Communicable Disease Control , Enterovirus Infections/epidemiology , Humans , Pandemics , Respiratory Sounds/etiology , Retrospective Studies , RhinovirusABSTRACT
184 Table 1Comparison of number of PED presentation and hospital admissions of children with acute wheezing between January-March and April-June 2018 to 2020 2018 2019 2020 Difference in percentage* Total number of PED presentations with acute wheezing, n - January-March 507 671 557 −5% - April-June 427 697 84 −85% Total number of hospital admissions, n (%) - January-March 303 (60%) 430 (64%) 347 (62%) −5% - April-June 247 (58%) 436 (63%) 19 (23%) −95% PED presentations of children under 5, n - January-March 360 507 378 −13% - April-June 279 514 40 −90% Hospital admissions of children under 5, n (%) - January-March 241 (67%) 345 (68%) 256 (68%) −13% - April-June 173 (62%) 336 (65%) 10 (25%) −96% PED presentations of children over 5, n - January-March 147 164 179 +15% - April-June 148 183 44 −75% Hospital admissions of children over 5, n (%) - January-March 62 (42%) 85 (52%) 91 (51%) +24% - April-June 74 (50%) 100 (55%) 9 (20%) −90% *Difference in percentage is calculated by the difference between mean of 2018 and 2019 compared to 2020.ConclusionsStrict containment measures secondary to COVID-19 lockdown has had a positive impact in children with respiratory conditions. Whilst the current restrictions are not indefinitely sustainable, they demonstrate the potential health benefits of improved adherence to hand hygiene, pharmaceutical therapy, and sensible social distancing.